Stollenwerck v. Thorington

GARDNER, J. Appellant, Stollenwerck, instituted a suit in unlawful detainer against Mamie D. and .Henry C. Jones, in the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, for the possession of a house and lot at the corner of Fairview avenue and Mastin street, in said county. A few days subsequent the defendants in said action filed their bill in the equity court of said county against this appellant for an accounting and other relief. In their bill complainants insisted that the deed to the property involved in the unlawful detainer suit and referred to as the “home place,” executed to said Stollenwerck, was intended as a mortgage, that it was invalid, and there had been no relationship of landlord and tenant created. Other transactions involving various pieces of real estate were likewise embraced within the influence of this equity litigation which need no specific reference here. •By way of incidental relief the further prosecution of the unlawful detainer suit was enjoined by the issuance of the temporary writ of injunction. Stollenwerck filed answer and cross-bill seeking appropriate relief consistent with the contention that the deed was valid and absolute, that there had been attornment to him by complainants, and that judgment should be rendered for the unpaid rent. Upon consideration of the equity cause for final decree the chancellor granted cross-complainant relief, giving judgment in his favor for the rent, and finding he was the absolute owner of the “home place” and entitled to the possession thereof, and ordered the issuance of a writ of possession. The temporary injunction theretofore issued was dissolved. From this decree complainant Mamie D. Jones has appealed without security for costs. Her right to prosecute the appeal for a review and consideratioii in this court is this day determined favorably to h'er contention. Ex parte Mamie D. Jones, post, p. 208,115 So. 301, this day decided. Subsequent to the rendition of the final decree in equity, Stollenwerck sought a trial of the unlawful detainer suit. It being made to appear to the judge of the court of common pleas that the equity court had acquired jurisdiction of the parties to the suit and of the subject-matter and rendered final decree, from which appeal to the Supreme Court had been prosecuted and was then pending, the judge continued the unlawful detainer suit Over the protest of the plaintiff therein, and this mandamus proceeding was instituted to compel a trial thereof. Petition for mandamus was denied and petitioner appeals. The question of continuance of a cause is one resting largely in the sound discretion of the trial court. The appeal of Mamie D. Jones brings the equity cause here for review. The extent of the review and matters here to be determined are for future consideration. Under the provisions of section 6138, Code of 1923, the appeal operated as a “suspension and stay of any proceed *201 ings” under the decree, and thus takes such an appeal from without the general statute and rule of law as to dissolution of an injunction and reinstatement thereof pending appeal by execution of bond as fixed and allowed by the chancellor or member of this court upon the chancellor’s refusal. Section 8312, Code of 1923. A holding to the contrary would in a large measure nullify the express provision of section 6138, supra, quoted above. It appears from a casual consideration that the final decree in equity grants the substantial relief sought in the action of unlawful detainer. Manifestly, in view of the appeal taken by Mamie D. Jones, the trial judge of that court wisely exercised his sound discretion in passing the ease pending the determination of the appeal involving the same subject-matter between the same parties. We conclude, therefore, that the petition for mandamus was correctly denied, and the judgment will accordingly be here affirmed. Affirmed. ANDEESON, O. J., and SAYEE and BOULDIN, JJ., concur.